| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024ta•per1 /ˈteɪpɚ/USA pronunciation v. - to (cause to) become thinner toward one end: [no object]The shirt tapered at the waist.[~ + object]to taper the shirt at the waist.
- taper off, [no object]
- to become gradually more slender toward one end.
- to be reduced by degrees;
decrease;
diminish:The snow will taper off at about midnight.
n. [countable] - a candle, esp. a very slender one.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024ta•per1 (tā′pər),USA pronunciation v.i. - to become smaller or thinner toward one end.
- to grow gradually lean.
v.t. - to make gradually smaller toward one end.
- to reduce gradually.
- taper off:
- to become gradually more slender toward one end.
- to cease by degrees;
decrease;
diminish:The storm is beginning to taper off now. I haven't stopped smoking entirely, but I'm tapering off to three cigarettes a day.
n. - gradual diminution of width or thickness in an elongated object.
- gradual decrease of force, capacity, etc.
- anything having a tapering form, as a spire or obelisk.
- a candle, esp. a very slender one.
- a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas.
- Middle English: wax candle, Old English, variant of tapur, dissimilated variant of *papur paper bef. 900
- a person who records or edits magnetic tape, videotape, etc.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: taper /ˈteɪpə/ vb - to become or cause to become narrower towards one end
- (often followed by off) to become or cause to become smaller or less significant
n - a thin candle
- a thin wooden or waxed strip for transferring a flame; spill
- a narrowing
- any feeble source of light
Etymology: Old English tapor, probably from Latin papӯrus papyrus (from its use as a wick)ˈtaperer n ˈtapering adj |